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I am a keen builder/pilot based in Pretoria, South Africa. My main interest is building and restoring mostly LSA class aircraft. I own 10 planes at the moment with 4 of them still in the project stage, the others flying. I also love cross country flying and exploring the lovely country, and surrounding countries, I live in, often camping in the bush and sleeping under the wing.

Other hobbies include photography, mostly landscape, amateur radio and computers. I make a living in the computer industry.

Nice to have you with us, Rudi. I've never been in Pretoria, but had a wonderful Spring holiday in Cape Town, last year at about this time.

Please tell us a little about your planes.

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.Prof H Paul ShuchPhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMTAvSport LLC, KLHVfly@AvSport.orgAvSport.org facebook.com/SportFlyingSportPilotExaminer.US

Rans S12 powered by a Rotax 618 75 hp 2 stroke, we had some amazing cross country adventures together! Here she is:

Next came a Savannah STOL, build from an Italian kit powered by a Rotax 912EX, 95hp engine. I can operate her from around 35m (about 105 feet) runway and have landed her often in the African bush, sleeping under the wing in a tent. She cruises at around 100 mph and is almost impossible to stall.

This Bush Baby is a locally produced kit based on a Kitfox, she is powered by a Rotax 912UL and flies like a dream, really responsive and safe. I have flown her all over Southern Africa.

Next is a KR2, powered by a custom build engine of 2.4l, fuel injected with a Garret turbo charger and inter-cooler producing around 130-150hp depending on the boost. She currently holds the South African record for speed over a 500km there and back track for planes of under 600kg, her average speed over the track was around 179 mph. The engine has since been upgraded and I plan to attempt breaking the world record for that class (213 mph) in her. She is more than capable of attaining that speed at high altitude.

And another KR2, this one a bit slower with a 2.1l, water-cooled VW engine that is turbo charged and injected as well, her top speed is around 175 mph but the turbo is a bit small, will upgrade it sometime.

You might wonder about the turbo chargers in some of my planes, I should mention that I fly from a hot and high (4800') runway that is only around 2500' long so the extra power and altitude compensation that the turbo provides for take-off in the faster planes helps a lot!

Then there are the non flying projects, all "work in progress", a Pietenpol I am rebuilding, another highly modified KR2S, a Russian Aviatika bi-plane build by the Mig factory, a Teenie two and a Zenair 601HDS. Along the way I also had a few planes that I sold......

Very nice fleet, Rudi. It must be a full-time job maintaining (not to mention flying) all of them.

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.Prof H Paul ShuchPhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMTAvSport LLC, KLHVfly@AvSport.orgAvSport.org facebook.com/SportFlyingSportPilotExaminer.US

Yes, the KR's are fun, the closest you can get to a fighter aircraft on a budget, they fly by "thought control", you hold the stick, think where you want to go and that is it, if you move the stick chances are you will over-control

Here is the one that is still under construction, photo taken a while ago, there has been progress since then!

It is indeed a full-time job keeping them in flying condition, but it is FUN!

You certainly do, Rudi. If it weren't so damned far away, I'd come there more often!

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.Prof H Paul ShuchPhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMTAvSport LLC, KLHVfly@AvSport.orgAvSport.org facebook.com/SportFlyingSportPilotExaminer.US